Nut-lock.



C. H SELLERS.

NUT LOCK- APPLICATION man APR.23. 1918.

1,288,701 Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

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CHARLES H. SELLERS, 0F GRIDLEY, CALIFORNIA.

NUT-LOCK.

Application filed April 23, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. SELLERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gridley, in the county of Butte and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nut-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a nut lock and has for its principal object the production of adevice which will hold the nut against accidental rotation upon the bolt carrying the same, thus preventin the nut from being accidentally displaced? Another object of this lnventlon 1s the production of anut lock, wherein the nut 1s provided with a ratchet wheel upon ts 1nner surface, while a retaining frame 15 employed for engaging the ratchet wheel and at the same time engage a support for holding the nut against accidental rotation upon the bolt.

A still further object of this invention 1s the production of a nut lock, whereln the retaining frame is stamped from a blank and comprises a base having a substantlally circular spring finger thereon, the finger be ng provided with a pawl head, thus permlttlng the head to engage the ratchet wheelof the nut, thus holding the nut against accidental rotation.

Broadly stated, this invention comprises a nut having an integral ratchet wheel upon its inner surface, a retaining frame comprising a base having a spring finger thereon provided with a pawl head, said pawl head being in engagement with the ratchet wheel, the finger engaging the ratchet wheel for holding the frame against displacement, sa1d pawl head permitting the nut to be rotated in one direction, although gripping the teeth of the ratchet for holding the nut against accidental rotation in the opposite direction.

With these and other objects in view. this invention consists of certain novel combinations, constructions and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully descrlbed and claimed.

One practical form of assembly of the present invention will be herelnafter described, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawinggin which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the nut lock in use.

Fig. 2 is a top plan vlew of the nut lock 1n use.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 241, 1918.

Serial No. 230,300.

of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 4; is a vertical section through the locking frame and nut taken on the line &4; of Fig. 1,the bolt and the support being removed.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, about to be described, 5 designates a support having a base 6 thereon, the present disclosure being merely illustrative and not limiting a device to the specific use as illustrated herein, for the invention is adapted for use in connection with rails or with any other desired structure.

The bolt 7 is passed through the support 5 and this bolt 7 is externally threaded in the usual manner, as indicated at 8.

The nut 9 may be of any desired construction, size or shape, as is obvious, as the specific construction of the nut does not enter into the merits of the present invention. This nut is to be screwed onto the threaded bolt 7 in the usual manner, until the nut engages the support 5. The nut 9 has a thickened portion formed thereon, as illustrated in Fig. 3, which constitutes the ratchet wheel 10, as the periphery of this thickened portion 10 is provided with a number of teeth 11. The outer surfaces 12 of the teeth are curved, while the ends of the teeth present flat surfaces as shown at 13. It is therefore obvious that as the ratchet wheel 10 is formed integral upon the nut, it will be impossible for these elements to rotate independently of each other. i

The retaining frame is stamped from a blank sheet of resilient .material and comprises a base 1 1 which is elongated to rest upon the base 6 of the support 5. This base 14 is provided with a notched portion 15 to be in alinement with the circular resilient finger 16 extending from the base portion adjacent one end thereof. This finger 16 is circular, as also illustrated in Fig. 3 and has its free end extending to a point adjacent the base 1 1. The pawl head 17 is formed integral upon the free end of the resilient finger 16, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 3. It will be noted that by having the finger 16 substantially circular, it will fit around the ratchet wheel of the nut and for this reason any tendency of side movement of the retaining frame is positively overcome by the fitting of the finger around the ratchet wheel as above specified. Attention is also invited to the fact that the retaining frame is stamped from a blank sheet of material and is of a thickness which is less than the herein and then the retaining frame is positioned upon the base of the support,'while the projecting end of the bolt will extend beyond the retaining frame. The nut is then screwedf'onto the bolt until the ratchet wheel comes into a binding engagement with the web, of the rail or the support as illustratd herein and at, this time this ratchet wheel will pass through the circular finger of the retaining frame. Owing to the curved construction of the outer surfaces 12 of the teeth 11, it is obvious that rotation of the nut. in a clock-wise direction will be per- Initted, as the finger will move outwardly sufliciently to; permit this movement of the nut. However, in the event of any tendency of the nut to rotate in a counter-clock-wise direction, it is obvious the pawl head 1'7 will grip the flat face 13 of one of the teeth 11 and positively preventthis counter rotation of the nut. Therefore, any possibility of the nut accidentally rotating to disengage the, bolt will be overcome.

Of course, if it isdesired to remove the nut, a suitable, implement may be insertedbetween the nut and the support and grip the pawl head and pull the same outwardly from engagement with the teeth, owing to the resilient construction of the circular finger I6 and then the nut may be rotated tar-unscrew from engagement with the bolt.

The foregoing description and the drawinghave reference to what may be considered the preferred, or approved, form of my invention. It is to be understood that I mayrmake such changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove eXpedient and fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having this fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by- Letters Patent, is 2'- The combination with a bolt, having a nut thereon provided with a ratchet wheel, of a retaining frame, said retaining frame consisting of an elongated base, a substantially circular finger extending from one end of said base, the end of the finger being} spaced from the base and having a head, said finger extending in the same vertical plane as. said base, thus preventing the finger from accidentally bending when in use, said finger fitting close to said ratchet wheel, thus holding the frame against side displacement, while said pawl head will engage the ratchet for holding the nut against rotation in one direction.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. SELLERS.

Witnesses:

E; E. Buses, D. H. EVANS.

copies ol'tlii's patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

